While Ezekiel Elliottstole the show for the Cowboys, Thursday night marked yet another step forward for Seattle's Christine Michael.
The Seahawks running back plowed for 58 yards on seven attempts against Dallas, bringing his totals over three preseason tilts to 157 yards on 24 carries.
Any thought of Thomas Rawls operating as a solo featured back has all but withered up after watching Michael make the most of his second chance in Seattle.
"It's just a blessing to even be back here," Michael said after Seattle's 27-17 win over the 'Boys. "Most guys, you get rid of them and they go all over the NFL, but they gave me the opportunity to come back. I'm just trying to make the best of it. Trying not to let these guys down, and me, myself, my family. I'm just trying to play, do what I've been doing my whole life."
Michael, of course, was an enigmatic underachiever during his first stint in Seattle before the 'Hawks traded him to Dallas last season. He didn't last long in Texas, either, landing on Washington's practice squad and -- ultimately -- back with the Seahawks before the end of the campaign.
His strong play in last year's regular-season finale was only a hint of the future, with Michael this month looking like one of the NFL's top runners. He's a decisive, powerful back with a knack for gaining yardage in chunks. Thursday was no exception, with Michael overcoming a sluggish start to rip off gallops of 10, 17 and 20 yards.
"He had to go somewhere else, he had to get cut, he had to get released from the practice squad," Carroll said. "We were fortunate to get him back, and he comes back with all of the lessons at hand that you could learn, and he learned them. He's turned it around, and it's a beautiful turnaround for him and for us."
Said Carroll: "I'm thrilled for the kid. He's playing so confidently right now. He's very poised about the game, too, to see him stay in the game for a while, and carry the ball and just have to play football. He was very poised, he conserved his energy very beautifully. It looks like he's ready to go."
